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Wed 8 Jan, 2003 06:26 am
I live near the town of Tomball, Texas. In its illustrious past Tomball was named Peck. I often wonder why they ditched one loser name for another one. Thomas Ball was a prominent Peck citizen. They did it to honor him, but the knowledge does not make the name less grating.
There are other odd names hereabouts. Take Cut 'N' Shoot, for example. What a history that town must bear.
What about Intercourse Pa., in the heart of the Amish country?
Or Truth or Consequences, New Mexico?
Good topic Edgarb - Phoenix got my pick with T&C, NM.
Truth or Consequences NM is the result of a TV-Show-Related promotional gimmick. I don't recall the original name of the town, but I'm sure somebody with more curiosity will google it out for us.
Near here, there is a Bashaw Township. A Township, for those not familiar, is a six square mile administrative subdivision of a county, ans may or may not encompass a town of the same name ... in fact, some townships have no "town" as such, no collection of relatively adjacent buildings of mixed use. In fact, the township which includes Timberland is Roosevelt Township, and has no town.
Anyway, visiting folks sometimes wonder about "Bashaw" ... how could remote Northwestern Wisconsin have a township seemingly named for a type of oriental potentate? The truth is less glamorous than the speculation. It is named for an early resident, whose land holdings essentially comprised the area, and who, at one time, ran a country store therein. His name was Byron Adam Shaw, and early plot maps show his little fifedom defined by fine lines and labeled: B.A. Shaw. There remains a Bashaw Store Road, but the store itself has been gone over a century.
Another; The town of Coalinga, California bears neither a Native American nor Hispanic name, as many conjecture. The town was the site of a railroad service facility back in the days when steam ruled the rails. It was a "Coaling Station", and on railroad maps was designated "Coaling A". There of course were "B"s and "C"s, and so forth, but apparently, only "A" developed into a village or town.
timber
I used to know what T&C was called before the radio show, but I fogot. I do know that in that town is Elephant Butte - you got it, a butte that looks like an elephant. I have a picture somewhere....
I found out on NY's Eve why we pronounce Worcester as Worster - because that's exactly the way they say it in England. We held onto that pronounciation for how many hundreds of years?
I go through Tightwad, Missouri fairly often. And there's a bank there. Can you imagine trying to ask for a loan at the Tightwad Bank?
Timber- "Google it out"- sounds like a great pick to nominate as a new expression!
Another nearby town is Pleak. All I can figure it's a surname. Then there is Iowa Colony, a smattering of homes and businesses that follow the highway for what seems like miles.
edgar, my favorite town name is Texas is Dry Prong. It's smack-dab in the middle of the state. Doesn't sound very welcoming, does it?
There are so many, I just cant choose!!!
Heres a list of the wild ones
Town Names -Dribbleglass
Speaking of towns named after people, Eugene, OR, is named after Eugene Skinner, one of the original white settlers. What's cool (to me, at least) is that they used his first name; I think it was originally Eugene City. (I used to live there.)
I'd also like to say what a cool topic/thread!
Our town is named for Gov. John Winthrop of the Mass. Bay colony and was part of a land grant he gave to his son Dean. Dean's house "The Dean Winthrop" house still stands, and they say is one of the oldest homes/houses in North America. The historical society caretakes it, etc. Unfortunately due to poor planning/zoning, there is a huge garage/gas station right next to it...Oh well.
How about Climax, Georgia?[/i]
There's a Climax, Michigan, too. In the Gold Rush Years, many mining and boom towns had some pretty colorful, often indecorous names. "Gouge-Eye Flats" was an incorporated town in Colorado in the 1850s.
timber
in the far reaches of northwest colorado near the utah border was the town "martha's nipple" named after a local mountain. its gone now and i suppose martha is as well.
No kidding Dys! In Southern Utah, near the AZ border is a mountain named Molly's Nipple.... No town though. If you leave Hurricane, UT and head into the Virgin River gorge, just after you exit said gorge look off to the right (west?), there she is.
littlek: looks like them mormons had a fixation.
heehee, funny, I was thinking the same thing!